What did you think when you saw the word “God” in the 12 steps? Did you think you would be forced to believe in some particular religion? Or did you think you couldn’t find help because you didn’t believe in God?

Two speakers from a NA convention share their experience finding a God of their understanding. (From the Recovery Radio Network.)

Our topic for next week is the first in a series on the “gifts of Al-Anon.”

We will become mature, responsible individuals with a great capacity for joy, fulfillment, and wonder. Though we may never be perfect, continued spiritual progress will reveal to us our enormous potential.

How have you found this coming true in your life? Or are you still waiting?

Can you be grateful for painful events? How do you cultivate an “attitude of gratitude”? Can gratitude help you sleep better? Join Spencer and Wendy as we talk about our experience with gratitude.

We used these questions to guide our discussion.

What does “gratitude” mean to you?

Do you see gratitude differently now than before you came to Al-Anon?

Do you practice an “attitude of gratitude”?

How has this changed your life?

Have you found gratitude for painful occurrences in your life? How or why?

What are you grateful for today?

We also found a couple of interesting articles about gratitude. Powerful Lessons in Gratitude starts “As I write this, I am coming to terms with the death of a good friend of mine who was killed in a tragic accident over the weekend. … However, I realize that even in death we have the opportunity to celebrate the beauty of life.” Both of us have found gratitude in the middle of pain and loss, and that gratitude has helped us to live our lives with greater serenity and even joy.

Another interesting article is 8 reasons to love gratitude, which has this list of benefits. The benefits are backed up by scientific study, believe it or not.

It can make you happier.

It can reduce blood pressure.

It makes hearts healthier.

It's associated with better sleep.

It helps people exercise more.

It helps make vets more resilient.

It can help your relationship.

Even a little bit helps.

Spencer was happy to hear that he doesn't have to practice gratitude every day in order to gain its benefits!

Our topic for next week is Tradition 12, which states “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.” Please call us at 734-707-8795 or email feedback@therecoveryshow.com with your questions or experience, strength and hope. Or just leave a comment right here.Continue reading “Gratitude 2014 – Episode 97”

Do you sometimes feel responsible for the whole world? Would other people be happy if they would do things your way? An critical part of our recovery is that we recognize that we are not God.

Spencer talks about ways in which he has tried to “play God” in the past, about how those increased the unmanageability of his life, and about how the realization that he is not God has simplified his life and provided serenity. He worked from the outline below, illustrating the points with stories from his life.

I’ve titled today’s episode Made a Decision. I am going to relate my the story of my journey to and through Step 3, “Made a decision to turn our will and our live over to the care of God as we understood God.” I started from unbelief, was told to “act as if”, found willingness, and eventually surrendered. But still, I must give my will over on a daily basis, because I continue to try to take it back.

My Story

What is this “God” thing of which you speak?

How can I turn my will and my life over to something I don’t believe in?

“Act as if”

Letting go of my loved one’s recovery (or lack thereof)

The meeting and the program as my HP

A later understanding of surrender — just going to meetings

Unmanageability as motivation

Evidence of God working in my life

Growing willingness

Surrender

God suggests — sometimes I listen

Daily practice

What holds me back?

My intellect

Fear (of losing control)

Desire for my outcome

What pushed me forward

Clear unmanageability of life

Seeing it work — when I listened

My will has often led me into trouble

Change requires changing — letting go of old ways — I can’t do it alone

Our topic for next week is Forgiveness. Please call us at 734-707-8795 or email feedback@therecoveryshow.com with your questions or experience, strength and hope. Or just leave a comment right here.

“… we shall hew from this mountain of despair a small stone of hope.” — Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

What is hope? How do we find hope when we are overwhelmed by a mountain of despair? Spencer, Maria, and May talk about their experiences of finding hope in the midst of their times of confusion, fear, and despair.

Some of the questions we used to guide our discussion included these:

How did you experience hope before you came to the program?

Did you “hope for” particular outcomes?

Has your conception or experience of hope changed as you have worked the program?

Do you see a difference between having a hopeful attitude versus an optimistic attitude?

The “Stockdale paradox” is that the POWs in Vietnam who didn't survive were the optimists.

In his “dream” speech, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. said “With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.”

What does this say to you?

Does faith support or engender hope for you? (Faith in a higher power, faith in the program, faith that there are good people, faith…)

How can we find hope in a seemingly hopeless situation?

Can hope lift us from despair, as King suggests?

Upcoming topics are forgiveness, co-dependency, and Tradition 4. Please call us at 734-707-8795 or email feedback@therecoveryshow.com with your questions or experience, strength and hope. Or just leave a comment right here.